Governor Ram Naik Monday said “special Urdu classes” will be organised at Raj Bhavan beginning next month where he along with and his staff will learn the language.

“Urdu is the second language in Uttar Pradesh but many officers do not have even the working knowledge of Urdu. Thus, I planned to organise the special classes of half-an-hour to one hour at raj Bhavan, which would be attended by officers as well as me,” Naik told The Indian Express.

He said that the idea struck him when recently a group of teachers met him and said that they can impart him “working knowledge” of Urdu within a week by giving two hours daily.

“However, all of us here have office work to do and thus we cannot give two hours daily. Thus, we plan to have half-an-hour to one hour classes daily for 15 days or more as required to learn the language,” the Governor said, adding he plans to start the classes after August 15.

The Governor also hosted an Iftar at Raj Bhavan. Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav could not attend the Iftar as he is abroad, his uncle and senior cabinet minister Shivpal Yadav was present.